Gustavo Granillo whose son Roendy died of a heat stroke in July talked about how his son was remodeling his room. His things in his room in Haltom City remain as they were before he died. (Maria Olivas/Al Dia)

Updated at 3:45 p.m: Revised to include more detail on the letter-writer's employment

Cheers from construction workers and advocates erupted in the Dallas City Council chambers Wednesday morning as the council voted 10-5, with virtually no discussion, to require rest breaks on construction sites.

The measure will require contractors to give their workers a 10-minute rest break for every four hours of work. Proponents said it was a common sense and low-cost way to address heat stroke and death in dangerous outdoor jobs. Opponents said it was outside the scope of the city’s authority and there was no data to show a widespread problem.

Representatives of Austin-based advocacy group Workers Defense Project came out in force to Wednesday’s council meeting, just as they have to meetings, vigils and protests at City Hall since mid-2014.

“Someday we will look back on this and say ‘Can you believe we had to fight for something so basic?’” said Emily Timm, the organization’s policy director.

Council members declined to consider a last-minute “compromise resolution” to support Occupational Safety and Health Administration heat illness prevention efforts instead of passing a city measure. Lee Kleinman, the ordinance’s most vocal council opponent, offered it as an alternative.

Only he, Mayor Mike Rawlings, Jennifer Staubach Gates, Adam McGough and Rickey Callahan opposed mandating the rest breaks. The others, including all of the black and Hispanic council members, voted for the ordinance.

Members of the Granillo family sat in the audience with photos of their 25-year-old son and brother Roendy Granillo, who died from heat stroke in July while installing flooring on an unfinished house in Melissa. His sister Jasmine Granillo, 11, told the council she missed him and feared for her father and other brother who still work in construction.

Jasmine was especially close to Roendy Granillo. He taught her to love the Mavericks and music ranging from Coldplay to country, she said earlier in the week as she spoke to reporters in his former bedroom. After the vote, she said she could barely believe the several council meetings she had attended had ended with her brother’s death having an impact.

“Last time I was feeling hopeful, but now I just feel amazing,” she said. “It’s something good.”

Despite his opposition to the ordinance, Mayor Mike Rawlings promised to follow up on a letter from a construction worker who spoke of mistreatment at his job. The mayor had previously told any such workers to contact him directly so he could personally address their issues.

Dallas resident Arash Farasat, a driver and former construction worker, took him up on that offer and sent an email describing working up to 10 hours in the heat without any breaks. Farasat said his employer had threatened to kill him when he complained to the company’s main office.

Farasat said in his letter to Rawlings that he worked for the same employer as a driver and construction worker. According to the Dallas Observer, Farasat is now embroiled in a class-action lawsuit against the employer, claiming he withheld valet tips.

“This is the first letter I’ve gotten on this issue,” Rawlings said. “I’m going to be good on my word and speak to this company.”